Clear or Diffused LED's: What's your preference?

[FloorIt]

I'm not sure which ones I have used on the two projects I have built.  Diffused?  Are the 'Water Clear High Brightness" LED's obnoxiously bright?

Also, what does the '3/4' refer to in a '3/4 5mm' led?

[gtr2]

Yes, water clears tend to be obnoxiously bright depending on the color.  I only use diffused for indicator LEDs anymore...

Josh

[GermanCdn]

I only use eye searing green LEDs and 2.2k CLRs for my indicators.

[pickdropper]

I only use eye searing green LEDs and 2.2k CLRs for my indicators.

Wow.

Well, at least you can tell if you accidentally leave a pedal on.  Odds are, you can see it from outside the house.   

[jkokura]

I use water clears, but unlike Curt I tend to use high resistor values to bring the brightness down.

I also like using Fresnel lenses these days too. That helps because it's like a diffuser without having to buy diffused and water clear LEDs.

Jacob

[GermanCdn]

I only use eye searing green LEDs and 2.2k CLRs for my indicators.

Wow.

Well, at least you can tell if you accidentally leave a pedal on.  Odds are, you can see it from outside the house.   

Actually, that is one of the reasons I use them.  If the lights are off in the basement and it's bright as day, I've left some pedals on.

[RobA]

I've got some diffused amber LED's that'll burn your eyes out. They have the advantage that can do damage from a larger viewing angle.

[davent]

With some green waterclears i have, 47k for a 9v supply.

I've a random mess of leds, many colours, clear/diffused, 3mm/5mm/10mm and from every supplier i've ever dealt with. Tailor the clr to each individual led, waterclears are run well, well under 1ma and are bright enough for my use. Then there's some weak kneed diffuse that are barely there with a 470Ω clr. Prefer the clears but use whatever i deem appropriate.

Made this from parts that were on hand to establish a clr value, 510Ω->18k2.



dave

[jubal81]

I use water clears, but unlike Curt I tend to use high resistor values to bring the brightness down.

I also like using Fresnel lenses these days too. That helps because it's like a diffuser without having to buy diffused and water clear LEDs.

Jacob

Same here. Clear LED with 47K CLR and fresnel lens.

[FloorIt]

With some green waterclears i have, 47k for a 9v supply.

I've a random mess of leds, many colours, clear/diffused, 3mm/5mm/10mm and from every supplier i've ever dealt with. Tailor the clr to each individual led, waterclears are run well, well under 1ma and are bright enough for my use. Then there's some weak kneed diffuse that are barely there with a 470Ω clr. Prefer the clears but use whatever i deem appropriate.

Made this from parts that were on hand to establish a clr value, 510Ω->18k2.



dave

That is awesome.  I am very impressed.

[Jebus]

With some green waterclears i have, 47k for a 9v supply.

I've a random mess of leds, many colours, clear/diffused, 3mm/5mm/10mm and from every supplier i've ever dealt with. Tailor the clr to each individual led, waterclears are run well, well under 1ma and are bright enough for my use. Then there's some weak kneed diffuse that are barely there with a 470Ω clr. Prefer the clears but use whatever i deem appropriate.

Made this from parts that were on hand to establish a clr value, 510Ω->18k2.



dave

This is a great idea! Have to build one of these too.

[pickdropper]

With some green waterclears i have, 47k for a 9v supply.

I've a random mess of leds, many colours, clear/diffused, 3mm/5mm/10mm and from every supplier i've ever dealt with. Tailor the clr to each individual led, waterclears are run well, well under 1ma and are bright enough for my use. Then there's some weak kneed diffuse that are barely there with a 470Ω clr. Prefer the clears but use whatever i deem appropriate.

Made this from parts that were on hand to establish a clr value, 510Ω->18k2.



dave

I like the way your brain works.

[davent]

Thanks guys, this is just my implimentation of an idea put forward a long time ago by Mark Hammer.
dave

[Muadzin]

I prefer waterclear blue LED's, with 1K5 resistors. None of that dim stuff as I want something that even the most enthusiastic light tech can't obfuscate on stage with excessive lights and smoke. I want my pedal board to shine as bright as those spaceships from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

That LED tester is sheer awesome sauce though.

[selfdestroyer]

Diffused for me. I am in a Auburn color kick right now. It also depends on the artwork :]

Cody